Wilma Johnson Gay passed away November 8, 2022, at the age of 84 in Payson, Utah. She was born to Ervin Wesley Johnson and Winnie Valera Moss on March 13, 1938,
in Moroni, Utah. Wilma helped her family on their farm growing up and would later tell her grandkids stories of her farm life. She had a love of literature from an early age. She ran the bookstore at her high school and wrote her own poetry to express her thoughts and feelings throughout her life.
She met the love of her life, J Clyde Gay, and they were married in the Bern Switzerland Temple on June 20, 1958. They had three children together Wayne, Wesley, and Lisa. Together Clyde and Wilma raised their family in American Fork. Wilma was a home maker who made her house a home. She was very involved in supporting her children and making sure they got to swim lesson and competitions and dance practices and many other activities. Later when the children were grown, Clyde and Wilma moved to Salem, Utah where they lived until Clyde’s passing.
Wilma enjoyed canning and preserving the food, planting her flower beds, and enjoyed watching all kind of birds, but what she enjoyed most of all was sewing. Everyone who knew Wilma knew she was a beautiful seamstress! She sewed her daughter’s wedding dress, her granddaughter’s bridesmaid dress, clothes for all her children and grandchildren. She even sewed for neighbors and those in need. She loved to also quilt until her hands would not let her anymore and she made a beautiful quilt for each of her grandchildren. Wilma’s love of sewing was passed onto and benefitted those who loved her, and those items she created are treasured by the recipients.
Wilma had a deep love of her church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She studied genealogy and participated in all the presidencies of the auxiliaries of the church throughout her lifetime. One such calling was created just for her – Grandma Friend. She was called to be the Grandma Friend of the Primary where she would sit with the children and share her love with them.
Of all the things Wilma loved what she loved most was her family. While she is missed by those she left behind, it cannot be denied that there was a beautiful reunion waiting for her in Heaven.
Wilma is preceded in death by her parents Ervin and Valera Johnson; her siblings Richard Johnson, Jean Christensen, and Betty Shelley; and her husband of 59 years J Clyde Gay.
She is survived by her three children: Wayne (Judy) Gates, Wesley Johnson, and Lisa (Terrance) Orr; seven grandchildren: Jeffrey (Laura) Gates, Jaren (Chauntelle) Gates, Jason (Kiley) Gates, Jennessa (Pace) Maughan, Taryn (Jason) Nielson, Maegan (Jarom) Alder, Shaylee (Corbin) Scott; and 19 great grandchildren.
A viewing will be at the church on Saturday November 12th at 25 W Apple Blossom Way in Salem, Utah from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. with funeral services to follow at 11:00.
TO VIEW SERVICES VIA LIVESTREAM, PLEASE CHECK BACK HERE A FEW MINUTES PRIOR TO SERVICES BEGINNING AT 11:00 A.M. ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2022 AND CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Leave a Condolence